Pictures like this, of the plaque at the Warner Robins visitors center commemorating Butch, the University of Georgia mascot from 1947-195, and many more are needed for a book about the city’s history. Alline KentSpecial to The Sun News

Pictures like this, of the plaque at the Warner Robins visitors center commemorating Butch, the University of Georgia mascot from 1947-195, and many more are needed for a book about the city’s history. Alline KentSpecial to The Sun News

It is time to tell the story of Warner Robins in pictures

Over the years, I have written a lot of columns after someone or some organization asked me to help them out. From publicizing a community event to celebrating a child’s achievement, it has been my privilege to be the messenger and help deliver the news to our community.

But now I need your help.

Next year, we will be celebrating Warner Robins’ 75th birthday. Although there were at least two towns in this area, York and then Wellston, and the name of the town changed in fall 1942, the official date for the birth of Warner Robins has been celebrated on the anniversary of the town’s charter as Warner Robins in March of 1943.

Since I have a deadline, that’s the one I am going with as well.

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When a book company reached out to Mayor Randy Toms about doing a book on Warner Robins, the mayor in turn recommended me.

Here’s the part where I need your help.

The book will need pictures — lots and lots of pictures. And I need you to help me find them.

Think of all the things that have happened here in the last 75 years or so. We built a base from farmland. We built a hospital from the ground up and survived two tornadoes. Two teams from our high schools have been named national champions and dozens more state champs. Teams representing our city our won both the Little League baseball and softball championships. We had a giant snow storm and the University of Georgia mascot used to live here.

There’s all the organizations — the businesses that took a chance on a new city and the women from the garden clubs who planted trees. And then there’s the Little Theater, the PTOs, the Boy Scouts — all of which have contributed to our history.

And the people. I have always said it was the people that have lived here that made Warner Robins what we are today. We raised a boy that went on to be governor and now has been nominated to be secretary of Agriculture. Another one we raised is in the Senate. We have had a Miss America and astronauts and NFL players.

Maybe you have a picture of your son receiving his Eagle Scout award from one of our former mayors. Or a picture of the first grocery store. Or something more recent. In considering our 75 years, we want to cover all 75 of them.

So, on Friday morning, I will be at the Nola Brantley library in the historical room, starting about 10 a.m. If you have a picture or two or a dozen, please bring it there. If email works better for you, we can work that out, too. My phone number and email are at the bottom of this column, so get in touch with me. Please don’t assume that someone else will get me a picture of something, make sure it is included.